Rack with several assembly levels

ABSTRACT

A rack for a switching cabinet having vertical frame pieces. The vertical frame pieces have two protruding fastening elements, both of which contain a fastening section which is mounted parallel to the associated outer edges of the rack and a profiled side which is vertical to the associated outer edges of the rack. The fastening section and the profile edges have rows of fastening cavities spaced at equal distances from each other. This invention provides greater opportunity for mounting built-in fixtures on the rack frame when the distance between the profiled sides of one fastening attachment and the fastening sections of the other fastening attachment is the same as the distance between the fastening cavities or the space corresponds to a multiple of the dividing gap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a rack made of frame legs for a switchgearcabinet, wherein the frame legs have two fastening shoulders withrespectively one fastening section arranged parallel with the associatedexteriors of the rack and one profiled side arranged vertically withrespect to the associated exterior of the rack, and the fastenersections and the profiled sides have rows of fastening retainers spacedapart at equal distances.

2. Description of Prior Art

A rack of this type is known from German Patent Reference DE 43 36 285A1. Such frame legs are constructed symmetrically in relation to theircross-sectional diagonal line. The fastening shoulders are arranged onboth sides of the cross-sectional diagonal line at a connecting section,which faces outward from a corner section of the rack. The fasteningsections and the profiled sides with their fastener retainers areattached to the fastening shoulders. The fastening section and theprofiled side of a fastening shoulder are arranged at right angles withrespect to each other. Assembly rails or the like can be fastened on thefastening retainers. Built-ins, such as electronic units, for example,can then be attached to the assembly rails.

Such assembly rails are described in German Patent Reference DE 195 03289, for example. The assembly rails, which are U-shaped in crosssection, are screwed to the fastener retainers of the fasteningshoulders of two adjoining vertical frame legs by means of elbows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of this invention to create a rack of the typementioned above in which the fastening locations for the built-ins arestandardized.

The above object of this invention is achieved by the distance betweenthe profiled sides of the one fastening shoulder and the fasteningsections of the other fastener shoulder being respectively equal to thedivisional distance of the fastening members, or by the distancecorresponding to a multiple of the divisional distance.

Because the distance between the fastener retainers of the profiledsides and the fastening retainers of the fastening sections has a fixedrelationship with the divisional distance of the fastener retainersbetween each other, it is possible to create a rack, wherein thefastening locations for the built-ins form a spatial grid. The built-inscan be arbitrarily installed in this grid in the rack, which provides agreat variability of the attachment options of built-ins. In this casethe distance can be equal to the divisional distance of the fastenerretainers, or it is a multiple of this distance. Here, a multiple canalso be a fraction of the distance. It is important that acircumferential fastening grid results. It is also possible within thedivisional difference to use intermediate fastener retainers in the rowsof fastener retainers in the fastening grid.

In accordance with one advantageous embodiment of this invention, thefastening sections of two adjacent vertical frame legs of the rack forma first assembly level, and the profiled sides extending paralleltherewith form a second assembly level. The continuous assembly railscan be fastened on the fastening retainers of the fastening sections andof the profiled sides.

The two assembly levels are spaced apart from each other at thedivisional distance or a multiple thereof. Attachment options forbuilt-ins of different width result because of these two parallelassembly levels.

It is advantageous if the assembly rails have a support section arrangedon the first or second assembly level and which has at least one row offastener retainers. The fastener retainers have the same divisionaldistance from each other, which corresponds to the divisional distanceat the profiled sides, or respectively the fastening sections or amultiple thereof. Thus the divisional grid formed by the fastenerretainers of the frame legs is continued in the assembly rails.

A simple design of the assembly rail is distinguished because it isformed, U-shaped in cross section, by the support section and two stripsconnected therewith, which are spaced apart and positioned parallel fromeach other.

If the strips of the assembly rail have fastener retainers, furtherattachment possibilities for built-ins are provided. A fixed divisionalgrid is also maintained with the rows of fastener retainers.

For the attachment of assembly rails on the frame legs, an embodiment inaccordance with this invention is distinguished because tabs projectingtoward the front are formed on the support section of the assembly rail,which can be fixed in place by fastening elements on the fasteningsections or the profiled sides. The tabs are offset in relation to thesupport section, so that the support section lies on the level formed bythe profiled sides/fastening sections. Thus the assembly rails arelocated on the assembly levels formed by the profiled sides/fasteningsections.

In accordance with a further embodiment of this invention, wall elementscan be attached to the fastening elements and/or the profiled sides.Linings, for example, can be attached as wall elements, which cover anentire side or only a partial area of the side of the rack. The wallelements can also be designed as assembly plates.

In this case in particular exterior walls can be arranged parallel withthe wall elements and shafts, for example for cables, insulating,absorbing material, or as air-guidance channels, can be formed betweenthe wall elements and the exterior walls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention will be explained in greater detail in the specificationby an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an area of a rack with twoassembly rails; and

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a vertical frame leg of the rackwith wall elements installed.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows two vertical frame legs 10 of a rack. For the sake ofgreater clarity, only the left frame leg 10 is shown in detail withreference numerals in FIG. 1. However, all vertical frame legs 10 of therack are identically designed, so that they can be employed in allcorner areas.

The frame leg 10 has a connecting section 11, to both sides of whichfastening sections 10.1, 10.2 are connected. The two fastening sections10.1, 10.2 are also identically constructed, so that there is symmetryin relation to the cross-sectional diagonal line of the frame leg 10. Astrip section 13 is connected at an angle to the connecting section 11.The strip section 13 makes a transition into a right-angled bend 14.Together with the bevel 15, the bend 14 forms a recessed receivingspace. A door element or a wall element can be placed into thisreceiving space. However, it is also possible to place the bevel intothe recess formed in the area between the strip sections 13 and theconnecting section 11. A sealing contact strip 12 adjoins the bevel 15at right angles. A wall element, such as identified individually byreference numeral 20 in FIG. 2, can be placed against the sealingcontact strip 12 and sealed.

As shown in FIG. 1, adjoining the sealing contact strip 12 the fastenersection 10.1, 10.2 has two profiled elements extending at right anglesto each other, which are individually marked as profiled side 16 andfastening section 17. Each of the profiled side 16 and the fasteningsection 17 respectively have a row of fastening retainers 16′, 17′,which in this case are designed as rows of holes. The fasteningretainers are separated at uniform distances.

An undercut dovetailed groove with strips 19 and end sections 18, facingthe interior of the rack, is formed between the two fastener shoulders10.1, 10.2. The end sections 18 are placed on top of the connectingstrip 11 and fixed in place on the connecting strip 11, for examplewelded.

Assembly rails 40, 50 can be fastened between the two vertical framelegs 10. The assembly rails 40, 50 are formed with a U-shaped crosssection from a support section 42, 52 and strips 41, 51 connectedtherewith, which are spaced apart parallel with each other. Rows offastener retainers 45, 46, 55, 56 are cut into the support section 42,52 and the strips 41, 51 of the assembly rails 40, 50. In this case,holes and slits are alternatingly provided. The holes are at identicaldivisional distances from each other. The slits are also offset inrelation to each other by the amount of the divisional distance. Thedivisional distance between the holes and slits again corresponds to thedivisional distance as realized by means of the fastener retainers 16′,17′ in the profiled sides 16, or respectively the fastening sections 17.For attaching the assembly rails 40, 50, the fronts of the supportsections 42, 52 are extended by means of tabs 43, 53. Screw retainersare cut into the tabs 43, 53, into which fastener elements 44, 54 areinserted and connected with the fastening retainers 16′, 17′ of theprofiled sides 16, or respectively fastening sections 17. On their sidefacing the vertical frame leg 10, the tabs 43, 53 have hooks and/or pins(not shown). Thus, the assembly rails can be prepositioned on thefastening retainers 16′, 17′.

In the present case, the distance between the profiled sides 16 of theone fastening shoulder 10.1, 10.2 and the fastening section 17 of theother fastening shoulder 10.1, 10.2 corresponds to the divisionaldistance between the fastener retainers 16′, 17′, 45, 46, 55, 56. Thus,the support sections 42, 52 of the assembly rails 40, 50 form twoassembly levels which are offset parallel in relation to each other.Here, the offset corresponds to the amount of the divisional distance.

As shown in FIG. 1, the support sections 42, 52 are aligned flush withthe profiled sides 16, or respectively with the fastening section 17.Transition sections are formed on the tabs 43, 53 for this purpose,which hold the support section 42, 52. The rows of holes in the strips41, 51 of the assembly rails 40, 50 transition into the associated rowsof holes of the fastening sections 17, or respectively of the profiledsides 16.

The attachment of wall elements on the frame leg 10 is shown in FIG. 1and in FIG. 2. The wall elements 20 are placed on the sealing contactstrips 12 facing outward and support seals 22, with which they aresealingly placed against the sealing contact strips 12. The bevels 21 ofthe wall elements 20 project into the receiving space formed in front ofthe connecting section 11. The receiving space is recessed with respectto the exterior of the rack frame. An interior wall element 30′ can beattached to the left fastening shoulder 10.2. The wall element 30′ hasscrew retainers 31′ for this purpose. Fastening screws can be insertedinto the screw retainers 31′ and screwed together with the fasteningretainers 17′ of the fastening section 17. In the present case the wallelement 30′ can be employed as an assembly plate, to which built-inunits are attached. A shaft is formed between the wall element 20 andthe assembly plate, into which installation and absorbing materials canbe placed, or can be used as an air-guidance channel.

An alternative application of a further wall element 30″ is representedon the fastening shoulder 10.1. The wall element 30″ has a bevel 32″facing the exterior of the rack frame. Bores 31″ are cut into the bevel32″. The wall element 30″ can be screwed together with the profiled side16 of the fastening shoulder 10.1 through the bores 31″. Once the wallelement 30″ is fixed in place, the wall element 20 constituting theexterior of the rack frame can be attached. A shaft is also formedbetween the wall element 20 and 30″.

It is respectively shown in the present embodiments that two spatiallyseparated fastening shoulder 10.1, 10.2 are fixed in place on oneconnecting strip 11. However, in accordance with the crux of thisinvention it is also possible for the two fastening shoulder 10.1, 10.2to be united. It is important that the divisional distances inaccordance with this invention between the profiled sides 16 and thefastening shoulders 17 are maintained.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a rack having frame legs (10) for a switchgearcabinet, wherein the frame legs have two fastening shoulders (10.1,10.2), each of the fastening shoulders (10.1, 10.2) adapted forreceiving an exterior wall selected from a group of two perpendicularwalls of the switchgear cabinet, each of the fastening shoulders (10.1,10.2) having a fastening section (17) arranged parallel with theexterior wall of the rack and a profiled side (16) arrangedperpendicularly with the exterior wall, and wherein the fasteningsections and the profiled sides have rows of fastener retainers (16′,17′) spaced apart at equal distances, the improvement comprising:opposing sections of the fastening sections (17) of two vertical framelegs (10) forming a first assembly level, and opposing sides of theprofiled sides (16) of said two vertical frame legs (10) forming asecond assembly level, and a plurality of assembly rails (40, 50)fastened on the fastener retainers (16′, 17′) of the opposing sectionsand on the fastener retainers of the opposing sides, thereby placing atleast one assembly rail interior to another assembly rail with respectto the exterior wall of the rack.
 2. In a rack having frame legs (10)for a switchgear cabinet, wherein the frame legs have two fasteningshoulders (10.1, 10.2), each of the fastening shoulders (10.1, 10.2)adapted for receiving an exterior wall selected from a group of twoperpendicular walls of the switchgear cabinet, each of the fasteningshoulders (10.1, 10.2) having a fastening section (17) arranged parallelwith the exterior wall of the rack and a profiled side (16) arrangedperpendicularly with the exterior wall, and wherein the fasteningsections and the profiled sides have rows of fastener retainers (16′,17′) spaced apart at equal distances, the improvement comprising: aperpendicular distance between the profiled side (16) of the onefastening shoulder (10.1) and the fastening section (17) of the otherfastening shoulder (10.2) is equal to a distance between centers ofadjacent similar fastener retainers in any said row of fastenerretainers, opposing sections of the fastening sections (17) of twovertical frame legs (10) forming a first assembly level, and opposingsides of the profiled sides (16) of said two vertical frame legs (10)forming a second assembly level, and a plurality of assembly rails (40,50) fastened on the fastener retainers (16′, 17′) of the opposingsections and of the opposing sides (16), thereby placing at least oneassembly rail interior to another assembly rail with respect to theexterior wall of the rack.
 3. In the rack in accordance with claim 2,wherein the assembly rails (40, 50) each have a support section (42)having at least one row of fastener retainers (45, 46, 55, 56), whereinthe fastener retainers (45, 46, 55, 56) have the same distance from eachother as between the adjacent fastener retainers in any single row ofthe profiled sides (16) and the fastening sections (17).
 4. In the rackin accordance with claim 3, wherein the assembly rails (40, 50) areformed with a U-shaped cross section by the support section (42) and twoconnected strips (41, 51) spaced apart parallel from each other.
 5. Inthe rack in accordance with claim 4, wherein the strips (41, 51) of theassembly rail (40, 50) have fastener retainers (45, 46, 55, 56) therein.6. In the rack in accordance with claim 5, wherein a plurality ofprojecting tabs (43, 53) are formed on the support section (42, 52) ofthe assembly rail (40, 50) and fixed in place on one of the fasteningsections (17) and the profiled sides (16), and the projecting tabs (43,53) are offset in relation to the support section (42, 52), so that thesupport section (42, 52) lies on a level formed by one of the profiledsides (16) and the fastening sections (17).
 7. In the rack in accordancewith claim 6, wherein a plurality of interior wall elements (30′, 30″)are attached to each shoulder of the frame leg at at least one of thefastening elements (17) and the profiled sides (16).
 8. In the rack inaccordance with claim 7, wherein a plurality of exterior walls (20) arearranged parallel with the interior wall elements (30′, 30″), and aplurality of shafts for one of cables, insulating material and absorbingmaterial are formed between the interior wall elements (30′, 30″) andthe exterior walls (20).
 9. In the rack in accordance with claim 2,wherein the assembly rails (40, 50) are formed with a U-shaped crosssection by a support section (42) and two connected strips (41, 51)spaced apart parallel from each other.
 10. In the rack in accordancewith claim 9, wherein the strips (41, 51) of the assembly rail (40, 50)have fastener retainers (45, 46, 55, 56) therein.
 11. In the rack inaccordance with claim 9, wherein a plurality of projecting tabs (43, 53)are formed on the support section (42, 52) of the assembly rail (40, 50)and fixed in place on one of the fastening sections (17) and theprofiled sides (16), and the projecting tabs (43, 53) are offset inrelation to the support section (42, 52), so that the support section(42, 52) lies on a level formed by one of the profiled sides (16) andthe fastening sections (17).
 12. In a rack having frame legs (10) for aswitchgear cabinet, wherein the frame legs have two fastening shoulders(10.1, 10.2), each of the fastening shoulders (10.1, 10.2) adapted forreceiving an exterior wall selected from a group of two perpendicularwalls of the switchgear cabinet, each of the fastening shoulders (10.1,10.2) having a fastening section (17) arranged parallel with theexterior wall of the rack and a profiled side (16) arrangedperpendicularly with the exterior wall, and wherein the fasteningsections and the profiled sides have rows of fastener retainers (16′,17′) spaced apart at equal distances, the improvement comprising: aperpendicular distance between the profiled side (16) of the onefastening shoulder (10.1) and the fastening section (17) of the otherfastening shoulder (10.2) is equal to a distance between centers ofadjacent similar fastener retainers in any said row of fastenerretainers, and a plurality of interior wall elements (30′, 30″) eachattached to one of the fastening shoulders (10.1, 10.2) at at least oneof the fastening section (17) and the profiled side (16).
 13. In therack in accordance with claim 12, wherein a plurality of exterior walls(20) are arranged parallel with the interior wall elements (30′, 30″).